How long does a stye usually take to heal?
Disease description:
I have a stye on my eye, which is severely red, swollen, and extremely painful. I've been using medication for the past few days, but I'm worried it might worsen and require surgery. I'd like to know how long it usually takes for a stye to heal.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Shuai
How long it takes for a stye to heal mainly depends on the severity of the condition and the individual's treatment and care. 1. Mild cases: If the stye is mild and promptly treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, such as levofloxacin eye drops or erythromycin eye ointment, recovery usually occurs within about 7 days. 2. Severe cases: If the stye is more severe and antibiotic treatment is not started promptly, leading to local abscess formation, the healing process may take longer—approximately 14 days. Additionally, healing time is also related to an individual's immune system. People with weaker immunity, such as newborns, infants, and elderly patients with poor health, may require a longer recovery period.
